Humane Organization Launches Give Local Campaign

A new 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization recently ran a full-page ad in USA Today newspaper and is urging its readers to donate to local animal shelters instead of the Humane Society of the United States.

Funded by individuals, corporations, and foundations that are supporters of the pet industry, according to the non-profit’s co-director, Jeff Douglas, they plan to “give local” and work with local shelters and others. The name of the group is the Humane Society for Shelter Pets (HSSP) and plans to create a sustainable base of local support for American local pet shelters via grassroots advocacy and outreach.

In the USA Today ad taken out by HSSP, a quote is included from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) President and CEO, Wayne Pacelle, which reads, “We never said we funded animal shelters.” In response to this, Pacelle wrote a blog post on the HSUS website deriding HSSP.

Listed on the HSSP website as the leadership of HSSP are Deborah A. Price, President of the Board of Directors; Diana Culp, Co-Director; and Jeff Douglas, Co-Director.

On its website, the HSSP lists three types of local animal and pet organizations/shelters: rescues, charitable organizations, and government agencies. HSSP states all of these organizations work together to deal directly with animals in needs. Further, donations to national organizations, HSSP states, do not cover costs to house and feed animals, provide them medical care, and provide funding for staff as well as volunteer recruitment.

Visitors to the HSSP website can learn of the group’s mission statement and available resources, including local shelters to support, facts and statistics about animal shelters, resources for shelter professionals, and resources for veterinarians.